China is Asia's equivalent of the Roman empire. Like the Middle East and the Vatican, it is in fact the center of a world religion, Buddhism, despite its sociopolitical system, which has the intelligence not to destroy its national treasures. The most breathtaking and magnificent Buddhist temples are located there. Buddhism, however, is low-key and self-effacing, which is why the world hardly sees that it even has a "center". Unfortunately other religions have no penchant for such silence and obscurity.